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Selling to Franchises

by qu4rk
6 replies
How do you handle selling your services to franchises such as McDonalds or Burger King? Of course those are large franchises, but I see smaller ones that could be helpful. I'd like to hear from some people who have dealt with franchises.

Thanks
#franchises #selling
  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    I have found that a lot of franchise owners actually handle all of their own marketing. Best way is to simply ask them. It has worked for us so far. Don;t let the fact that they are a franchise stop you from going in there.

    I've also heard of other warriors trying to go on the franchises approved list of vendors. I have not done that, but I would say the best way to do that is call the corporate office and try to strike up a deal.

    Hope that Helps

    Sean
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  • Profile picture of the author herbaluss
    Hmmmm is that so.... I did not think it was possible... I may have to go and visit some locations that I scratched off my hunt list for this reason. Wont hurt to ask.
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    • Profile picture of the author DrPaul
      Originally Posted by herbaluss View Post

      Hmmmm is that so.... I did not think it was possible... I may have to go and visit some locations that I scratched off my hunt list for this reason. Wont hurt to ask.
      Most of the large chain stores are locally owned, McDonalds is a perfect example. Franchise owners often also hold more than one franchise at a time at various locations. getting the local McDonalds franchise owner to talk to you could bring in up to ten separate locations all over your local area.
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  • Profile picture of the author Danielm
    I've owned a small franchise, a couple hundred locations around the US. You were limited in what kind of marketing you could do and a lot had to be approved by their home office. I once made a locally targeted website and the head of the marketing department lost his mind since it wasn't directly controlled by them.

    Worth asking, and can be very valuable if you can get the home office to recommend you as a provider to all their franchisees but from what I've seen it can be a very slow, drawn out process and in our case the home office always worked a cut in for themselves too.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Makarski
      Go in, talk to them and ask a lot of questions.

      Most people buy a franchise because they don't want to deal with marketing. They pay royalties and marketing fees to the corp ranging from 6% to 12% and that's their marketing budget. So many of them feel, I'm already paying for marketing and why pay more? Also, most of them have the employee rather than
      the business owner mindset.

      That being said, I know franchise owners who are true entrepreneurs and understand the limitations of marketing the support they get from the corporate. The key is, again, to go in, talk and ask questions.

      One more thing: You'll discover that a lot of these multi-units are corporate locations (i.e. NOT franchises). That should be your first question, "Are you guys corporate or franchise?" If they are corporate, the only thing you can do is ask for the contact details of their VP Marketing and start knocking on that person's door. You won't get anywhere with the people at the corporate store because they are all employees, including the GM.
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      "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -Confucius

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      • Profile picture of the author qu4rk
        Thanks for all the feedback. Another question.

        What services has anyone successfully provided to a franchise? This may help with approaching if I can already have in mind what may work.
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